System and method for building, customizing, managing, and participating in an online virtual world of bars and clubs connected to social networking sites

ABSTRACT

A social networking game is themed around the customization of a virtual world of bars and clubs that allows players to interact with each other.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 61/366,935 filed Jul. 23, 2010, which is incorporated byreference herein for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to multiuser online computer games ingeneral, and more particularly to social networking games for a computeror mobile device.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is in the technical field of social networkingcomputer games. More particularly, the present invention is in thetechnical field of online role playing games that let you build virtualworlds and communities.

Current social networking computer games, such as virtual world orsocial simulation games typically allow players to create a persona orcreate an occupation in a game and have that player give status updatesthrough social networking sites. These games are typically limited inthe participation of the player in a specific isolated role, such as afarmer, mobster, or in other similar single player focused occupation.In common form, these games allow scoring based on achievements that thesingle player makes to accomplish individually focused missions ortasks. There is no scoring based on how the player interacts with theother players of the game or allowance in the social interaction withother players in the game such as via chatting, messaging, gesturing, orother forms of simulated communication. Further, there is no creditgained or score achieved when multiple players interact with each otherin games of chance and other activities such as darts, pool, cards,fighting, dancing, or similar types of multiplayer interaction.

SUMMARY

The present invention is system and method for a social networking gamethat allows building, customizing, managing, and participating in anonline virtual world of bars and clubs connected to social networkingsites.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of different customized styles of a bar or club inthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of different types of personalized walldecorations of a bar or club of the present invention

FIG. 3 is a top view of a virtual multiplayer game of pool in thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of a virtual multiplayer game of darts in thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a Web page for selecting a bar type forthe player.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating an example method for selecting,working, owning, decorating, and visiting virtual bars in an onlinecommunity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a system and method for a social networkinggame with the general goal being the accumulation of virtual credits ormoney allowing for the purchase of virtual material, goods and servicesusing the accumulated virtual credits or money. The specific objectiveof the game is for each player to build and customized a virtual bar orclub in a virtual community of multiple bars and clubs owned by multipleplayers. The rules of the game include creating an online persona,building a bar or club with accumulated credits or material, customizingthat bar or club, then participating with other players to frequent anyof the bars or clubs of the virtual community. Each player mayparticipate in games and socialize in each of the bars or clubs,accumulating credits for actions and accomplishments in games of chanceor skill, selling food, drinks and refreshments, reaching certain goalsin activities such as chatting, flirting, dancing, drinking, fighting,or other similar barroom forms of entertainment. In addition, eachplayer may purchase drinks or gifts for themselves or to give to otherplayers. When any activity happens in the virtual world, it may beshared as status updates on social networking sites.

Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 there is showna top view of a square shaped bar 16 where a plurality of players 10 areseated and a bar rack 18 is situated in the center where bottles ofliquor and refreshments are stored and are served by the virtualbartender.

In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 1, a player 10may interact with another player 10 by chatting, talking, flirting, andasking each other to dance, fight or share a drink.

Referring now to the invention shown in FIG. 2, there is shown a virtualwall 50 from a player's bar that is decorated with items 60, 62, 64, and66. These items can be customized by the player following the theme ofthe bar, such as sports memorabilia for a sports bar wall, or westernitems for a cowboy bar, or items from the 1970s such as tie-dye shirts,peace signs, forty-five records, and bandanas for a retro themed bar.

Referring now to the invention shown in FIG. 3, there is shown a virtualpool table 70 from a player's bar that has a pool table rack 80 poolballs 82 and a cue ball 86. There is a pool cue 90 that the player cancontrol virtually in the game to shoot the cue ball 86 into the poolballs 82 to sink them into the pockets 84. Players may challenge eachother to a game where score is kept and credits given to players whowin.

Referring now to the invention shown in FIG. 4, there is shown a virtualdarts game with a dartboard 100 and darts 102. The player in the bar maychallenge other players to a game of darts trying to throw the virtualdarts 102 at the bulls-eye 104 to score more points than the otherplayer.

Referring now to the invention shown in FIG. 5, there is a Web page forinputting a player's selection for a bar type. This page can includefields for showing a player's name and social networking informationsuch as a friends list and which friends are currently on the chat line.The player then selects a bar type which is processed and recorded inorder for the player to start to work in that bar to begin the processof eventually owning that bar after working enough days in it.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating an example for playing the gamewhereby the player first selects a bar type, starts to work in that barthat was selected and keeps working in that bar until the player ownsit. Once the bar is owned, the player is able to decorate that bar andto also visit other players' bars.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, asocially interactive game in a virtual world that is played onlinethrough social networking sites allowing for credits to be earned bydifferent games of skill and chance against other players, socializingand interacting with other players in the bar, building and customizingplayer's own bars and clubs, and buying and giving bar-themed virtualmerchandise to other players.

Systems and Methods:

In broad embodiment, the present invention is a social networking gamethemed around the customization of a virtual world of bars and clubs.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention.

1. A method, comprising: processing, in a social networking game, theselection of a bar type from a player, wherein the bar type will be thestyle of bar or club that the player will work in the game; recording,how many days the player has worked in that bar to determine when theplayer owns the bar; processing, the selection of decoration by theplayer to place in his or her bar; processing, the player visiting otherplayers' bars in the game.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the playeralso may play interactive virtual games with other players in the game.3. The method of claim 2 wherein the player may earn credits or pointsfor winning games of claim
 2. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein theplayer may interact with other players in a social way, such aschatting, flirting, dancing, fighting, and other similar activities. 5.An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled tothe processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, theprocessors operable when executing the instructions to: process in asocial networking game, the selection of a bar type from a player,wherein the bar type will be the style of bar or club that the playerwill work in the game; record how many days the player has worked inthat bar to determine when the player owns the bar; process theselection of decoration by the player to place in his or her bar;process the player visiting other players' bars in the game.
 6. Anapparatus of claim 5, wherein the processors are further operable whenexecuting the instructions to: process a player playing an interactivevirtual game with another player inside his or her bar.
 7. An apparatusof claim 5, wherein the processors are further operable when executingthe instructions to: process a player interacting with other players inthe game by chatting, flirting, dancing, fighting, and other similaractivities in the game.